If you have a particularly strong gag reflex, this popular dentist's trick can help distract your brain and save you the discomfort (and embarrassment) in seconds.

This isn't a new discovery, but it's one many of us hadn't heard of before, so we thought it worth sharing. If you're in a situation where something is setting off your gag reflex (dentist's offices are one of the most common places), just form a fist with your left hand, squeezing your thumb. The folks over at Reddit's Ask Science forum deliberate as to why this is, and they point to a 2008 study that shows it to be effective—not to mention lots of anecdotal evidence on the internet—but whether it's an effect of the nerves in your hand or just a distraction, it looks like it's a pretty useful trick. Of course, it's a bit different for everybody, so your mileage may vary, but it's something to think about the next time you're sitting in the dentist's chair. Hit the link to read more.